The Manifest Destiny was a belief formulated by Americans that our nation should expand from coast to coast. The idea was formulated because of Americans pride and nationalism made them believe it was their destiny to expand the United States to the western coast. The Louisiana Purchase was the first act that started to fuel the idea of the Manifest Destiny, followed by Westward Migration, and the eventual wars that would take place in the new westward regions. The expansion of the United States, although at the time was aggressive in nature, would help to create the nation we see today. The Louisiana Purchase started the expansion of the United States westward into what is now known as the Midwest. The purchase was made on April 30, 1803, …show more content…
This was because the American migrants began to take an interest in the southwest especially what would become the state of California. President Polk shared the same interest in the territories of California and New Mexico and began to send troops to Texas under the command of General Zachary Taylor. President Polk new war was imminent between the United States and Mexico and appeared prepared for such a war. However Polk wanted to try and solve the conflict diplomatically by sending a special minister to try and buy off the Mexicans but was rejected by Mexican leaders. On January 13, 1846 in response to the rejection Polk ordered Taylor to send troops across the Nueces River, and on May 13, 1846 war was officially declared on Mexico by congress. The victory did not come easy to Polk as he thought it would, but on February 2, 1848 an agreement was made with Mexico known as the Treaty of Guadalupe which states Mexico agreed to cede California and New Mexico to the United States. This was shows how far the United States was willing to go in order to fulfill the Manifest Destiny. The Manifest Destiny helped to spark an expansion in the United States that would change the shape of the nation forever. The Louisiana Purchase sparked this idea of expansion, and then was quickly followed by the westward migration of a large population, and this would lead to
Manifest Destiny was a phrase that was made up by journalist John L. O’sullivan back in 1844. The United States wanted to push westward to the frontier such as Texas, California, and Oregon. The reason behind Manifest Destiny was to expand to provide new places to live and jobs. Manifest Destiny is the belief that the Americans could extend themselves from coast to coast. The way Americans conquered the new land were removing the Native Americans from their land.
Jefferson’s deficiency of authority amid foreign affairs enhanced the importance of a leader whom would obtain the ability to take control. James K. Polk the eleventh chief executive obtained positive aspects pertaining to foreign affairs. In 1846, president Polk signed a declaration of war on Mexico. The termination of this war occurred with the establishment of the “Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo”(Milestones: 1801–1829). This treaty was signed in 1848, it identified the “Rio Grande as the Texas border and ceded California and New Mexico to the United States, the United states also agreed to pay Mexico fifteen million dollars for the territories”(James K. Polk:Foreign Affairs-Miller Center).
In 1819, John Quincy Adams asserted that the United States had prerogative to all of North America. He thought it was America’s destiny to expand to the Pacific Ocean. Many Americans had agreed with him by the 1840s. The Manifest Destiny had an important role in the Election of 1844. The Democrats had chosen James K. Polk for President, a man who wasn’t really known, while the Whigs chose Henry Clay for President.
Americans were outraged over the border dispute at the Nueces and the Rio Grande rivers, and Mexicans were irate with America’s annexation of Texas. President James K. Polk availed in the atmosphere of animosity, hurrying to place troops on conflicted land. On May 9, 1846, he found his cause for war. Mexican and American troops had engaged in combat on April 24, which led American blood spilt on contended soil. However, through all their fighting spirit, the Americans faithfully ignored their own mistreatment of the Mexicans.
The Mexican-American War was a war fought between the United States and Mexico during the years 1846-1848. It was the first American war that took place in another country that being Mexico. It pitted a politically divided and militarily unprepared Mexico against the expansionist-minded administration of U.S. President James K. Polk, who believed the United States had a “manifest destiny” to spread across the continent to the Pacific Ocean (History.com) Manifest Destiny was a term used in the 19th century in which Americans felt that it was their destiny and right ‘by god’ to expand their country from coast to coast. President Polk felt the United States needed a westward expansion and the territories he wanted were: California, New Mexico
As mentioned earlier, Polk was a strong supporter of “manifest destiny”, but the concept was merely a belief that stemmed from religion. It wasn’t strong enough to act as a foundation of international decisions. In addition to its lack of strength, it increased the gap between the two nations because Mexico was Catholic and the US was Protestant. The religious and personal beliefs of Polk caused the US to become egoistic. To prove this point, John L. O’Sullivan stated, “Other nations have undertaken… hostile interference against us,… hampering our power, limiting our greatness and checking the fulfillment of our manifest destiny to overspread the continent allotted by Providence (God)...”
California became popular animal furs as well as hide and tallow trade. There was a lot of potential when it came to California and President James Polk even negotiated with Mexico to buy parts or all of California but Mexico refused. Polk deeply believed in the idea of Manifest Destiny and for him that meant war. People who liked the idea of Manifest Destiny also supported the war but there were others like Northerners who didn’t want the war. The Mexican-American War would last from 1846 to 1848 and would end with a negotiation called the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.
The year 1845, the American newspaper editor John O’Sullivan first coined the phrase, “Manifest Destiny”. This term is the belief that the United States should expand their territory from coast to coast. The Americans thought God was in their favor and should have the ability to take land. Without a doubt, might does not make right since the Americans did not have the right to be justified in the American acquisition of Texas and Mexico. The Americans were invited by the Mexican government to trade and settle in the northern territory, under these circumstances: learn Spanish, adopt the Roman Catholic religion and bring no slave nor democracy, which was not followed by the Americans.
Manifest Destiny is a unique, yet mysterious fundamental series of events in American history. No other country’s history contains such an eventful history as the United States. Amy Greenberg’s book, Manifest Destiny and American Territorial Expansion, provides documented evidence that settlers believed they were destined for expansion throughout the continent. In other words, many religious settlers believed that it was a call from God for the United States to expand west. On the other hand, people believed that Manifest Destiny vindicated the war against Mexico.
Manifest Destiny is the fate of the US to occupy all land between the 2 oceans, the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans. The idea of Manifest Destiny was created in 1845 and in 1853 the United States acquired all 48 contiguous states to fulfill Manifest Destiny. Manifest Destiny was first used in the 1840s. The people who supported Manifest Destiny are called Expansionists. The United States has achieved Manifest Destiny for many various reasons.
INTRODUCTION Throughout the 1840s and 1850s a major war happened called the Mexican American War which drastically changed the U.S. and Mexico and lead to the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo to be signed and which established the Rio Grande and not the Nueces River as the U.S Border. This also lead to the U.S. annexation of Texas and lead to the Mexico agreeing to sell California and the rest of the territory for 15 million. So you 're probably wondering why the war was fought but you 'll find that out later.
Manifest destiny also affected the relationship with Mexico. Several factors led to the Mexican- American War in 1846. The factors were that the U.S citizens were moving into California and Mexico. Since there were many revolutions happening in Mexico throughout this time period the Mexican government was not able to protect the U.S citizens in this region. Another factor was that Mexico was upset that Texas declared independence from them and then the U. S annexed Texas in 1845.
“Once we became an independent people it was as much a law of nature that this [control of all of North America] should become our pretension as that the Mississippi should flow to the sea” –John Quincy Adams (Henretta, p. 384). In the 1840s, Americans had a belief that God destined for them to expand their territory all the way westward to the Pacific Ocean. This idea was called Manifest Destiny. In the nineteenth century, Americans were recognized for coming together and building up one another for one cause: westward expansion.
The Market Revolution generated a drastic change in the United States economy and altered gender barriers while at the same time accomplishing this in a provocative manner. This economic boom occurred around the first half of the 19th Century. The economic boom was achieved by inventions such as a transcontinental railroad system which resulted in a better transportation system which improved trade and the cotton gin which sped up the rate of removing seeds from cotton fiber. However like what the great Hugo said, “The brutalities of progress are called revolutions. When they are over we realize this: that the human race has been roughly handled, but that it has advanced”.
Manifest Destiny was the term used by John O’Sullivan to describe America’s desire to expand West due to reasons including both the vast amount of unclaimed land and the opportunities Americans wanted to explore. During this time, Americans believed that it was their God-given right to expand West, and therefore they were entitled to push away any groups that were in their way. Due to the mindset that the Americans could do as they pleased with the groups of people who got in their way, Manifest Destiny affected many groups of people, including the American Indians and Slaves, and continued to build up the preexisting tension between the North and South. One of the groups of people affected greatly by Manifest Destiny were the Native Americans. Manifest Destiny affected the American Indians by spreading foreign diseases to them as they moved Westward, through the Native American territory.